Humans have a tendency to try ridiculous challenges, but the prominence of social media has increased the number of serious injuries as more people attempt these bone-braking and sometimes toxin-ingesting tasks. You might remember the Tide Pod, Kiki, and car surfing challenges.
Now, the social media site TikTok is sending people to the emergency room with a challenge called the “skull breaker.” While the name alone should be enough to warn people of how dangerous this activity can be, all too many people are trying it. Here’s what you need to know.
TikTok and the Skull Breaker
If you’re unaware, TikTok is a social media site where users share short videos. It’s mostly used for lip-syncing, dancing, comedy, and showing off unique talents. However, the site found its first dangerous challenge in 2018 when the skull breaker started.
In the skull breaker challenge, three people stand together and plan to jump at the same time. However, the person in the middle is unaware that they are the victim. Once they begin to jump, the other two kick or pull their legs out from under them. The resulting fall can cause severe brain and spine injuries, depending on how the person lands.
The goal of the skull breaker challenge is to have the victim land on their head, which is where the name comes from. Given the stay-at-home orders during the Covid-19 pandemic, teens across the country have flocked to this challenge out of boredom. While TikTok has asked its users to stop participating in this and other dangerous challenges, people refuse to listen.
Potential for Injury
A moderate impact to the head can come with complications, but the severe impact of the skull breaker challenge is enough to cause serious brain trauma. Seizures, loss of consciousness, and severe spinal damage to the neck are also common.
These injuries often come with long-term effects, causing physical and emotional changes to the victim. Someone who falls will likely develop the following:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Chronic fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Seizures and tremors
- Changes in mood and character
These symptoms are similar to those suffered by athletes with head injuries, as well as those involved in car and other types of accidents where brain trauma is present. Luckily, there are ways for victims to seek compensation if they have been the brunt of this cruel joke.
The Legal Battle
Just like in slip and fall cases, victims can pursue damages against the liable party for this challenge. That includes both people who caused the injuries. It’s vital that victims seek the aid a personal injury attorney to ensure they get the full amount of compensation they are entitled to.
Depending on the circumstances of the incident, personal injury claims in Denver can hold more than just the other two in the challenge liable. A school would be held responsible for not providing a safe environment for students if the skull breaker took place there, for instance.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of the skull breaker challenge, then it’s imperative that you seek legal aid as soon as possible. The victim is entitled to financial compensation for any losses and pain that were a result of the injury. Don’t hesitate, hold those guilty accountable for this challenge.
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